A review by farnz
These Impossible Things by Salma El-Wardany

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“A woman has a way of screaming with her whole body that only other women can hear”(370) + “Potential, she had discovered was a powerful drug”(305). So true, i say this all the time. You date a person, not their potential. Trigger warning for rape, domestic abuse & violence. The last line of the acknowledgments😭❤️ makeup deets in comments

Every once in a while you come across book that has such a profound effect on you. It changes you. That’s this book for me. It made me cry, laugh, stress.. it pushed me to make a decision like Kees & Malek. I especially related to Balquees. When kees cried, I cried. I had to stop cause page 236-237 made me cry uncontrollably. Top book of 2022. I’m Iranian so I related to everything. Would recommend this to anyone but if you’re Muslim, middle eastern/Arab woman, I would 100% urge you to read it. I’m happy that I have a signed copy of this!

It follows 3 friends: Jenna (half Palestinian, half British), Malak (Egyptian) & Kees (Pakistani). I loved & worried for all 3. It shows the struggles of women & how our religion & culture can both nurture & crush us. The argument between malak & Kees (I felt that)- how do you choose between the love of your life & your family when this division is caused by religion. Eating all together with food laid on the cloth on the floor, therapy, the ultimatums around dating. Ali stressed me out (so possessive & controlling), kees’ siblings broke my heart cause I can’t imagine ANYTHING keeping me away from my sister & Jenna pushing ahead with something she doesn’t want just to make her family happy. The little lies exchanged between friends when you’re both struggling but afraid to open up. Just do yourself a favour & read it
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